University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
Faculty Member, Communication Department
Lecturer
Digital Media Arts
Thesis Title: GameZombie.tv
Thom Gillespie
About
In less than two years, over 125 students have made significant contributions to the success of the GameZombie project. ‘Web Video & the Game Industry’ enhances with each successive semester, to the point where GZ now represents one of the strongest student run multimedia teams publishing content anywhere on the web. The powerful trajectory of the project indicates that with the support of the College of Arts and Communication at UWW, ‘Web Video & the Game Industry’ has the potential to become a national leader in hands-on new media curriculum and education.
Strongest Web Video Training Program in the U.S.
The ‘Web Video & the Game Industry’ curriculum is intense and demanding and yet students throw themselves into the work enthusiastically and with great pride. They love the subject matter, they love the sense of responsibility and ownership, they love the challenge, and they love that it’s real. Their work goes live on the web and competes on a global stage.
‘Web Video & the Game Industry’ represents a unique, state-of-the-art educational experience. Working on GZ prepares students for the rigor and excitement of full-time media work before they graduate. Students who participate in GameZombie become endowed with a strong competitive edge because GZ functions like a cutting edge new media production house.
‘Web Video & the Game Industry’ provides students a hands-on opportunity to produce a professional, mass-distributed game video web series, while strengthening multimedia production skills, new media marketing savvy, and expertise in the most current topics in online media and the business of interactive entertainment. The class provides the opportunity to drastically enhance one’s portfolio, industry connectedness, and global web presence.
Students learn--in the trenches--how to workshop each other’s projects and ideas in an energetic, creative, and collaborative environment. GZ’s style of production centers on regular feedback, open channels of communication, and a mentorship system in which our Lead Editors, Producers, and various senior team members provide focused constructive criticism and advice. Workflow and organizational structure have grown increasingly sophisticated and yet surprisingly more efficient.
Future Growth & Expansion
Long term expansion of the innovative, popular, and successful ‘Web Video & the Game Industry’ curriculum could involve formal cooperation between the fields of Multimedia, Informatics and Business. I envision a tiered, multi-class sequence that would allow for greater specialization and deeper training within the three core disciplines of Video Production, Web Development, and New Media Business. Completion of the sequence could result in a New Media Production and Business Management Certificate, or a recognized Minor. Strong demand for cutting edge, hands-on new media production curriculum has fueled the popularity of the project—continued formal development, expansion, and promotion will pay dividends.
Contact Information
http://www.youtube.com/gamezombieutube
510 S Muller Parkway, Suite 1006
Bloomington, IN 47403
8123220138
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